IOM and FAO support Vietnam to improve public health capacity in border provinces

Experts discuss measures to enhance public health capacity in border provinces. (Source: IOM)

The Government of Japan recently announced a grant of US$1.5 million to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to support the Government of Vietnam in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3.8D, focusing on early warning, risk reduction, and management of national and global health risks.

This project promotes a “One Health” approach – a holistic and integrated approach to balance and optimize the health of people, animals and ecosystems in a sustainable manner. Based on the close connection and interdependence between the health of people, domestic animals and wildlife, plants and the environment in general (including ecosystems), this solution will contribute to improving the capacity to prepare for and respond to public health emergencies in the border provinces of Ha Giang, Ha Tinh, Dong Thap and An Giang.

This approach contributes to addressing health threats in a comprehensive manner, with the cooperation of experts from many units of the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

The project focuses on raising awareness among border communities about public health risks, how to report cases, and how to protect their health. About two million people in four provinces will benefit from IOM-organized communication events and capacity building programs for human and animal health workers.

The health of humans, animals and ecosystems is closely linked and can pose a risk of spreading infectious diseases, as evidenced by the recent outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza in Vietnam and Cambodia.

Sharing about the project, Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki said: “I am proud to launch comprehensive cooperation between experts from Japan and Vietnam, together with United Nations agencies including IOM, FAO and WHO... I believe we have a great opportunity to promote the health of the Vietnamese people, build multi-sectoral partnerships and create a healthy future for all."

The project will establish a multi-sectoral Technical Team through a One Health approach with representatives from the health, veterinary, plant, border and environmental sectors, as well as local authorities in each project province, through comprehensive and multi-sectoral assessments.

The project will build the capacity of 80 members of the One Health Multidisciplinary Technical Team and 240 health workers to prepare for and respond to public health emergencies through training in simulations of avian influenza and rabies outbreaks in four project provinces, and accelerate disease detection in the veterinary sector using real-time mobile PCR diagnostics.

In addition, the project will promote bilateral cooperation in public health preparedness and response, through dialogues between Vietnam and neighboring countries such as Cambodia and Laos. This activity aims to exchange disease prevention measures and develop contingency plans in border areas.

About two million people in four provinces will benefit from IOM-organized communication events and capacity building programs for human and veterinary health workers. (Source: IOM)

“As a close partner of the Ministry of Health, IOM supports the Government of Vietnam in building resilient and mobility-sensitive health systems that incorporate a human mobility perspective,” said Kendra Rinas, IOM Chief of Mission in Vietnam.

According to Ms. Kendra Rinas, preparedness and response to health threats must be multi-sectoral and responsive to changes in mobility and cross-border movements. Applying a One Health approach will reduce the transmission of infectious diseases across borders and protect the health and well-being of two million residents in the four project provinces.

Dr. Rémi Nono Womdim, FAO Representative in Vietnam, emphasized that the agency has been working with the Government of Vietnam to promote the One Health approach as part of the transformation of the agri-food system for the health of humans, animals, plants and the environment.

“We need to adopt a coordinated, interdisciplinary, collaborative approach between the human and animal health sectors in Vietnam and neighboring countries to effectively prepare for and respond to health threats along the border. With support from the Government of Japan, we are leveraging our previously built capacity to prevent, detect and control animal diseases, and strengthening cooperation with the public health sector to apply these achievements in border areas,” said Dr. Rémi Nono Womdim.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/iom-va-fao-ho-tro-viet-nam-nang-cao-nang-luc-y-te-cong-cong-tai-cac-tinh-bien-gioi-308326.html